There’s nothing more exciting than designing a child’s bedroom. You can go whacky and wild, introduce bright colours, or opt for a calming room by using neutrals – but add in a little bit of drama for effect.
Murals and wallpapers can easily and quickly change a blank canvas into an amazing space and never more so in a child’s room. I’ve used freelance mural artists to create themed rooms (always bearing in mind the young occupants requirements as they can be demanding clients!)
I love Villa Nova’s wallcoverings and illustrator Noval Zommer has created some beautiful designs that are amazing, with bugs, butterflies and nature themed options. You can buy co-ordinating items such as cushions, rugs, pom poms and braid (Dunelm offer a great range of more affordable accessories too). In a recent show home I used ‘fetch’ wallpaper and ‘park life’ material from Villa Nova to create a lovely child’s room. We made a kennel out of ply wood that was covered in fabric and pom-pom edging, complemented by a made to measure blind, lampshade and cushions by local company ‘All stitched up’. It was finished with co-ordinating bunting. Consider introducing a tent or tepee as they offer a great place to play. I have wallpapered wardrobes to great effect and a ceiling wallpaper would work well – a twinkly star design would be lovely for this – or a night sky with planets – could be educational too.
When it comes to the bed, make sure you have plenty of storage for all those items left on the floor. Bunk beds are a good option, especially if your child has friends for sleepovers (in my experience there was always more talking than sleeping!) For a fairy tale bed choose one with a ‘house’ frame and add lots of fairy lights – the frame can also make a child feel more secure. If you’ve got little ones, consider putting a textured bed head around the bed walls to protect against night wriggling and bumps – also adds a nice feature.
Finish the room with a soft carpet, perfect for little feet and cosy rugs too. Side lamps and night lights add atmosphere whilst also providing a small amount of light (choose a really low wattage bulb).
Older children/teenagers can be tricky to design for. A Scandi look is a good choice for a sophisticated option with calming neutrals, woods and natural accessories. If you’re going for a themed option, design around your child’s interests. Remember less is more and add touches of a theme rather than a big impactful wall – your teenager will only get older and their tastes might quickly change.
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